The total amount of dry edible bean acres was higher in 2017 than in 2016. The number of insured acres of white beans in 2017 was 60,363 ac, up significantly from 46,194 ac planted in 2016. Coloured bean acres, however, were down overall, totaling 56,518 ac in 2017 compared to 60,668 ac planted in 2016. Acreage was reduced in each of the individual coloured bean market classes except cranberry beans, which increased from 9,799 ac in 2016 to 13,196 ac in 2017. In total, there were 116,881 ac of dry edible beans in Ontario under crop insurance.

Spring conditions were wet across the province. Most areas saw rain approximately every 3rd day through the end of May, making it difficult for some to achieve the ideal planting date of June 1st. Edible bean growers on lighter ground, particularly through Perth and Bruce Counties, were busy planting in early June but many growers were still catching up on soybean planting that had been delayed by wet conditions. Pounding rains on the 5th of June in Middlesex County caused some issues with emergence. Planters were rolling in many fields during the weekend of June 11th, but some acres were not planted until July and others were left unseeded through eastern Ontario. In spite of the wet spring and late planting, most beans were planted in good conditions. Later plantings actually lacked moisture in some areas. Some replanting did occur across the province, but not more than what is typical for dry edible beans in Ontario.

Issues with rain continued into late June. Although significant losses were kept to a minimum, there were heavy rains on June 22-23 throughout much of southern Ontario. Around 6” of rain fell in Bruce and Grey Counties, causing flooding and standing water. Dry beans in these areas developed root rot symptoms as a result, and some plant stands were reduced.

Weeds, Insects and Diseases

Weed control appeared to be normal to good in 2017, although excessive moisture in some places may have reduced the length of residual activity of herbicides. Variable weather conditions also made it a challenge to apply post-emergence herbicides at the appropriate time. The prolonged wet conditions later in the season resulted in some weeds germinating later, beyond the window for herbicide application.

Diseases of dry beans were more prevalent in 2017 than the previous season due to favourable weather conditions. Anthracnose was

Figure 1. Seed loss caused by white mould.

present in a number of fields across the province, but fungicides were generally applied at the appropriate timing to prevent significant bean quality issues. White mould pressure was very high because of prolonged wet conditions, and many growers opted to apply fungicides twice to protect the crop. It is difficult to estimate the yield impact of white mould in 2017, but pod and seed abortion were observed in individual fields where white mould was present (Figure 1).

Questions arose about the opportunity to control both anthracnose and white mould with one fungicide pass. Studies led by Chris Gillard have shown that strobilurin foliar fungicides are most effective at controlling anthracnose compared to other active ingredients, and there is little difference between the various strobilurin products. There are a number of products registered for white mould control, and Gillard’s work shows that fluazinam and fluopyram + prothioconazole also exhibit suppression of anthracnose. However, if anthracnose pressure is moderate to high a foliar strobilurin product may be warranted. Both diseases are best controlled with foliar fungicides applied between first bloom to 20% bloom. Where disease pressure is high, sequential applications can provide good return on investment, and the second application should be made at full bloom.

Disease issues that appear to be bacterial brown spot continue to be reported on adzuki beans. Symptoms include lesions on stems, and broken stems.

Leafhoppers typically thrive in dry conditions, but in spite of the wet year they were observed at threshold levels in late June. Insecticide seed treatments provide early season leafhopper control, but at this later stage foliar insecticide applications were warranted and many fields were sprayed to control populations at threshold. In addition, tarnish plant bug were observed at threshold and sprayed in some fields, particularly in adzuki beans.

Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) continues to pose a significant risk to dry edible beans in Ontario, and proves to be a significant challenge to manage. It is recommended that edible bean growers have two WBC traps in each field, and begin scouting for pod damage once 50 moths are trapped. Current recommendations are to spray when pod feeding is observed. Larvae typically begin feeding 10 to 21 days after peak flight, and feed for about 30 days. They hide in the soil during the day and feed on new pods each night so registered foliar insecticides should only be applied when pods are present, and good coverage of pods should provide effective control of actively feeding larvae.

Figure 2. WBC feeding on seed causes increased pick.

It is extremely difficult to find WBC egg masses or larvae in dry bean fields. It can also be difficult to determine the extent of pod feeding under the leaves of the crop. In fields scouted weekly by University of Guelph and OMAFRA this season, there were cases where only 0.01% pod damage was found in-season, but scouting after leaves had dropped revealed higher levels of damage. Up to 1% pick was reported to be caused by WBC damage in harvest samples from these fields. WBC damage can lead to pick caused by feeding directly on beans (Figure 2), or by discolouration of beans exposed to air through WBC holes in pods, particularly in cranberry beans (Figure 3). Bean dealers reported that most truck loads had some WBC damage if they came from areas where the moths were being trapped in high numbers. Research efforts are underway to better determine how to predict if a field is at risk of economic WBC injury.

Figure 3. One cranberry bean (yield) lost because of WBC feeding, and another bean discoloured by exposure to air through WBC feeding hole. Seed quality issues and increased pick are the major concern with WBC feeding.

Quality and Yield

Harvest was delayed this year because of late planting and rain at the end of the season. Very few beans were delivered in August, and by mid-September it was estimated that fewer than 10% of acres had been harvested in most regions. Late September and early October were quite warm; many acres were harvested and a large percentage of acres were desiccated during this time. Harvest continued well into October across many bean growing regions. Late harvested beans had high moisture, but most edible beans came off at average to dry moisture levels. Some dealers reported high cracked seed levels in white beans, but overall cracks and splits appear to be average.

Edible bean yields were average to above average. Cranberry bean yields were reported to be high on many acres, and some edible bean acres in Middlesex yielded more than soybeans. There are reports of poor black bean yields, which are likely related to accounts of poor black bean emergence. Farmers are required to report yields to Agricorp by December 15th, so provincial yield data will be available sometime after that date. There are many reports of yields above 2500 lb/ac. Provincial yields will likely be average to above average for the season.

Co-Authored with Karli Barton, Field Research Technician, OMAFRA-Ridgetown

As colder weather approaches, we have the opportunity to identify overwintering locations for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). BMSB and a few other stink bugs like to move into homes and other sheltered areas for the winter. This is a great time for homeowners dealing with this nuisance to help with citizen science and alert us to new locations. The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive species from Asia that was first introduced to Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, causing major economic losses in agricultural production. It has since moved into a number of states and provinces, including Ontario. This invasive species has over 300 known hosts including a variety of fruit trees, berries, grapes, vegetables, field crops including corn, soybeans and edible beans, ornamental trees, and ornamental shrubs.

BMSB spend the winter months in houses and move onto their host plants during the warmer months. Although the insect has not yet been observed in field crops in Ontario, established breeding populations have been confirmed in a few urban locations. The extremely mobile nature of this insect during the growing season means that it is difficult to scout and monitor. Alternatively, overwintering locations can serve as a fixed location for monitoring and can provide reliable information about the risk level of BMSB. We often establish field survey locations near these hihg risk locations where they have been observed by homeowners. With colder weather coming, it is likely that homeowners may begin to encounter these in their homes.

Figure 1. Confirmed homeowner finds and established breeding locations of BMSB in Ontario.

If you think you have found BMSB in homes in locations not represented on the map, please contact the OMAFRA Agriculture Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or send an email with good quality photos to ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.

Figure 2. Distinguishing Characteristics of BMSB.

There are a couple identifiable characteristics that can be used in distinguishing BMSB from look-alikes:

White bands on its antennae

Distinct white triangles in a pattern along its abdomen

The edge of its pronotum or “shoulders” is smooth

You can also visit our website for additional photos, infosheets, ID postcards, and potential management options at ontario.ca\stinkbug.

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http://fieldcropnews.com/2017/10/locating-the-overwintering-brown-marmorated-stink-bug/feed/0The Season is Not Over Yet for Late Season Pests Like Bean Leaf Beetle, Soybean Aphids and Othershttp://fieldcropnews.com/2017/08/the-season-is-not-over-yet-for-late-season-pests-like-bean-leaf-beetle/
http://fieldcropnews.com/2017/08/the-season-is-not-over-yet-for-late-season-pests-like-bean-leaf-beetle/#respondFri, 18 Aug 2017 15:48:20 +0000http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=14114

Despite it being the middle of August, some pests are not showing signs of wrapping this season up. Bean leaf beetle are a particular concern in food grade IP and seed soybeans and edible beans across Ontario. As are pod piercing pests like stink bugs and tarnished plant bugs. Soybean aphids are also increasing in numbers, particularly in fields in Eastern Ontario. So scouting is not over yet , I am afraid.

Bean leaf beetle pod damage. H Bohner, OMAFRA

Bean leaf beetlecan feed on the leaves, although the defoliation they do rarely reach threshold levels to impact yield this time of year. It is their pod feeding that can be a concern, especially in the later R stages of pods. Pod feeding can open the pods up to the development of pod diseases, impacting quality. Bean leaf beetle can also clip pods off of the plants which can have a direct impact to yield.

Scouting and Thresholds:

For R4–R6 Stage of IP, Food Grade and Seed Soybean and Dry Bean Fields – Assess 20 plants in five areas of the field. Avoid the field edge. Determine the percent defoliation and the number of pods damaged or clipped off and make note of the presence of adults.

For Soybeans: If 10% of the pods on the plants have feeding injury AND the beetles are still active in the field, a spray is warranted. If pods are being clipped and found on the ground, an application is warranted if beetles are still active in the field. Consider days to harvest intervals before making a spray decision.

For Dry Beans: With higher value and stringent quality standards in dry edible beans, if 5%–8% of the pods inspected have feeding scars, control may be necessary. If pods are being clipped and found on the ground, an application is also warranted. Ensure that adults are still presently active in the field before a spray is applied. Consider days to harvest intervals before making a spray decision.

Brown stink bug on soybeans. T. Baute, OMAFRA

Stink bugs and tarnished plant bugs feed directly on pods and seeds. Both the adults and nymphs have piercing and sucking mouthparts for removing plant fluids. They inject digestive enzymes into the seeds, causing the seed to dimple or shrivel, resulting in picks. The feeding wound provides an avenue for diseases to gain entry into the pod. Seed quality is reduced. Indirect effects can include delayed maturity — green bean syndrome —of injured plants, though stink bugs are not the only cause for green bean syndrome.

Scouting and Thresholds:

Take 20 sweep samples (in a 180° arc sweep) in five areas of the field. Determine the average number of adults and nymphs
per sweep by dividing the total count by 100.

Stink bugs in Soybeans – Control may also be necessary in identity preserved (IP) food-grade and seed soybeans in R4 to early R6 stage,
if an average of or 0.2 bugs per sweep is found (or 20 bugs in 100 sweeps). Even in crush beans, control may be warranted if an average of
0.4 adults or nymphs per sweep is found during the R4 to early R6 stages of soybeans.

Tarnished plant bug (TPB) in Dry Beans – Treatment may be required when an average of one to two tarnished plant bugs (nymphs
or adults) per sweep is found during the pod stages.

Seven spotted lady beetle feeding on soybean aphids. T. Baute, OMAFRA

Soybean aphids are increasing in numbers per plant, particularly in Eastern Ontario. Some fields in southern Ontario have experienced a significant drop in aphid numbers, likely in part due to natural enemies.

Scouting and Thresholds:

Fields that have aphids present should be scouted every 7–10 days until the crop is well into the R6 stage of soybeans. Scout fields more frequently (every 3–4 days) as aphid populations approach the threshold. Look at 20–30 random plants across the field. Avoid field edges. Estimate the number of aphids per plant in that field and the abundance of natural enemies present. A minimum of two field visits is required to confirm that aphid populations are increasing. The threshold for soybean aphids is 250 aphids per plant and actively increasing on 80% of the plants from the R1 up to and including the R5 stage of soybeans. More aphids per plant are needed once soybeans are in the R6 stage. Beyond the early R6 stage, economic return from any insecticide application is not likely and pre-harvest intervals have been reached.

Natural enemies play a big role in taking soybean aphids down below threshold, especially when aphid pops are just hovering below or above the threshold. Making observations of natural enemy presence can help you determine if a spray will be necessary. Use the free Aphid Advisor app, plugging in the number of aphids you see, as well as natural enemies. The app will calculate the number of aphids that will be fed on based on the natural enemy and aphid population and determine if a spray is necessary.

We are still seeing WBC trap counts going up in most counties north and east of Perth. That means that WBC moth flight has not yet peaked in those counties. This is important because this also means that we haven’t reached peak egg laying in those counties and that there are a wack of moths flying around looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. Where do they go this time of the season? Late planted corn fields that are still in the early pollination stages (i.e. silks have not dried down yet) and edible beans.

For edible beans, it is not as straight forward. Unlike in corn, WBC are nearly impossible to find in dry bean fields until pod feeding begins. Trap thresholds used in Nebraska have been found to be too high for the Great Lakes Region. So we rely on research and experience from Michigan State University. Pheromone traps can still help indicate which fields are at greater risk though. Traps at dry bean fields that capture an accumulation of 50 or more moths per trap are likely at greater risk and require scouting for pod feeding.

Pod feeding is expected to begin 10 to 20 days after peak moth flight has occurred, as indicated when trap counts begin to decline after weeks of steady increase. Prior to pods being present on the plants, scouting for egg masses in adjacent cornfields can also help determine what the local WBC populations are like. If any of the corn fields in the immediate area are past early tasseling, the dry bean fields will be more attractive for the moths. If an adjacent corn field reached the corn egg mass threshold and required spraying, the dry bean field is also likely at risk.

Once pods are present, scout 100 plants (10 plants in 10 areas of the field). Look for signs of early surface feeding or holes going directly into the pod. If pod feeding is easily found, a spray application is necessary. Control is still very effective when done as soon as pod feeding is found. WBC exit and enter new pods each night, so insecticides still work at controlling the larvae, as long as the pods are present during the application so that there is residue left on the pod surface.

Spraying too early when pods are not present on the plants will not protect the crop from damage. Spraying too late, when pod feeding has been taking place for some time will not reduce the risk of seed damage and pod disease incidence. The key is to protect the plants when the larvae are feeding on the pods.

We are continuing efforts in researching WBC in dry beans. A collaborative effort is underway this summer with OMAFRA (Meghan Moran and myself), UGRC (Chris Gillard) and Hensall District Co-op (Jim Barclay), collecting data from a number of side by side corn and dry bean fields, in hopes of increasing our understanding of this pest and dry bean risk factors.

Western Bean Cutworm continues to be a concern for pollinating corn in areas with high trap counts. Peak moth flight has occurred in some of the counties in the southwest but counties east and north of Middlesex and those in Central and Eastern Ontario have not reached peak yet. Moths will now be looking for late planted corn that is still in the early tasseling stages or will focus on edible beans. Focus scouting efforts in those corn fields that do not have dried silks yet. Edible bean growers need to scout for pod feeding once pods are present. Edible bean fields that are adjacent to corn fields that reached WBC eggmass threshold this year are likely also at risk. It is best to control fields as soon as pod feeding is observed. The larvae are exposed to the insecticide when they make holes in the pods to get to the seed. For additional information on WBC thresholds as well as optimal scouting and insecticide application timing see (http://fieldcropnews.com/2017/07/for-western-bean-cutworm-timing-is-key/). Information on product choices is available in the OMAFRA Field Crop Protection Guide (ontario.ca/ctaw).

Figure 1: Western Bean Cutworm feeding on edible bean pods.

Figure 2: Seed damage in edible beans from WBC (Credit: DiFonzo, MSU)

Post Wheat Harvest Manure Application:

For livestock producers and those using organic amendments, the post wheat harvest season is an excellent opportunity to apply manure for nutrients and organic matter. Spreading workload, reduced compaction and reduced risk of environmental losses from runoff and erosion, as well as the opportunity to combine the benefits of feeding cover crops with manure, are all benefits of manure applied during the growing season.

Where manure or other organic amendments are applied to fields it is important to take a sample for analysis to help determine available nutrients and potential commercial fertilizer savings. Along with analysis for N, P and K in manure, additional tests will help determine nutrient availability. Testing for sulphur will provide an indication of elemental sulphur content which is released to a crop similar to organic nitrogen and can provide all or some of the sulphur needs, especially for wheat and forage crops. Testing for C:N (carbon to nitrogen) ratio for solid manure and amendments will help indicate if additional commercial N will be required for a corn crop. C:N ratios below 20:1 will have adequate nitrogen to help with the breakdown of carbon. Materials with C:N ratios over 30:1 (especially for spring applied materials) should determine with pre-side dress N test if addition N will be required. With liquid materials, testing the pH will help determine the potential for rapid ammonium N loss where manure is not injected or immediately incorporated. Liquid manure with high NH4-N levels combined with high pH (above 7.8) will lose the majority of the quickly available nitrogen in the first 24 hours, especially when combined with warm dry soils and/or high winds over bare soils.

Often there is too little credit given to the nitrogen supplied by fall-applied manure. A general guideline with fall applied manure is to credit half the total nitrogen from the analysis. Cattle manure with heavy bedding and/or amendments with high carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio will have lower (30 to 40%) nitrogen credit while broiler poultry manure will have higher N credits (50 – 60%). Mild winter conditions will increase available N from solid manure but can reduce nitrogen contribution from liquid manure where ammonium N (NH4-N) is higher. An early warm period in spring also increases nitrogen contribution from manure to a crop, while a cool wet spring will slow down nutrient release; not able to meet the N needs of a rapid growing corn crop during the period ahead of pollination. Slow release nitrogen from manure will contribute to yield after pollination, especially in areas where frequent and heavy rain may have resulted in denitrification or leaching of commercial N sources. Tissue tests of fields with evidence of some N deficiency on lower corn leaves reveal that levels are still within the normal range. Where manure or other amendments were applied there should be adequate nitrogen to meet remaining crop needs.

I’m seeing a lot of pics on Twitter of recent WBC moth catches in traps, which I think is great. The more people that are trapping, the more data we have to work with to determine when peak flight takes place and when scouting is required. But trap counts do not indicate if a spray is required in corn. There is no relationship between trap counts and WBC infestation levels in the corn field that the trap is positioned at. Traps are used for only two purposes. 1) to indicate whether or not moths are flying in your area (especially for those locations other than the normal hotspot regions of Bothwell and Tilsonburg since sadly, these areas always have them) and 2) to indicate when peak moth flight occurs since this is followed shortly thereafter by peak mating and egg laying. Peak flight means scouting time!

We see moths flying around as early as mid June and it is normal to see catches increase over time. Peak flight varies each year and for each county or region but typically occurs sometime during the third week of July, forth week of July and first week of August. So having a number of traps set up in each region and county helps us to determine which week peak flight takes place for any given location. Even if you don’t have a trap, you can still see the interactive trap maps for this year and see what is going on in your county here via OMAFRA AgMaps.

Where a relationship does exist is between the crop stage and egg laying. Female moths try their best to lay their eggs on plants that have a tassel developing in them. WBC larvae do not feed on the corn leaves so if there is no tassel tissue, the larvae starve. Spraying eggs or larvae prior to any tassel being available on the plant is of no value at all, since the larvae are going to die anyway. You are best to target both scouting and spraying during the ideal egg laying period which follows shortly after peak moth flight. Pre-tassel to full tassel stage is the most attractive stage for the moth to lay her eggs. Fields in the pre-tassel to full tassel stage during and shortly after peak flight are most at risk. Once the corn field is beyond full tassel stage and the tassel is spent, moths prefer to go to dry beans or later planted corn fields nearby.

Scout fields or areas of field according to their growth stage. Knowing that peak flight occurs within in a three week window from the third week of July to 1st week of August, scout fields according to their growth stage during that period. Each week the stage will change so focus each week on those in pre-tassel to full tassel stage. Scout all corn fields, regardless of their Bt trait with the exception of those with the Vip3A trait. Only Agrisure Viptera hybrids provide effective control against WBC. All other Bt traits no longer provide protection against this pest and should be scouted.

Scout 10 plants in 10 areas of the field looking for egg masses on the top two to four leaves of the plant. If a field is quite variable, with different areas in different stages at one time, go to the area(s) in the ideal crop stage that week and scout those plants. The next week, a different area of the field may be at risk. Moths are more likely to stick around in the same field for a few weeks, instead of leaving to go to other fields, if she can find an areas that has plants in the ideal crop stage.

Use cumulative counts to determine if threshold has been reached. A spray is required if you find an accumulation of 5% of the plants with egg masses or small larvae over a two to three week period during pre-tassel to late tassel stages.

Time the spray application close to when fresh silks are present. This is when the majority of the larvae will have made their way to the silks to feed on before entering the ear. Tankmixing with fungicides for ear mold protection during this time will help provide protection from both WBC and ear rots.

To reduce the risk of resistance to an insecticide, rotate between chemical families each year or use an insecticide that contains two modes of action. Follow buffer zones on product labels to reduce the risk of non-target exposure of pollinators and aquatic invertebrates.

More insecticide information, life cycle, images and guidelines can be found at:

Despite the wet weather, potato leafhoppers (PLH) are thriving in many areas of the province. Hopperburn is evident in the second crop of alfalfa, though dry bean fields are also at risk, especially once insecticide seed treatments are no longer present in the plants. Unfortunately, once hopperburn is noticed, yield and quality has already been compromised. Though PLH-resistant varieties of alfalfa are available, new seedings are still vulnerable, as the glandular hairs are not fully expressed the first year. Use the conventional thresholds below for first year seedings of these resistant varieties.

Hopperburn from potato leafhopper. Photo: G. Quesnel

Scouting in alfalfa: Scout every 5–7 days. Take 20 sweeps from five areas of the field. Determine the average number of PLHs per sweep. Next, take 20 alfalfa stems at random and record the average plant height.

Scouting in dry beans: Walk in an “X” pattern. In 10 areas of the field, pick 10 trifoliate leaves that are newly and fully expanded from the centre of the plant canopy. It is important to note that PLH adults readily fly away when disturbed, which makes them difficult to count on excised leaves.

Thresholds For Potato Leafhopper on Alfalfa

Stem Height2

Number of PLHs per Sweep1

9 cm (3.5 in.)

0.2 adults

15 cm (6 in.)

0.5 adults

25 cm (10 in.)

1.0 adults or nymph

36 cm (14 in.)

2.0 adults or nymph

1 1 sweep = 180° arc.

2 The taller the alfalfa, the more leafhoppers can be tolerated before control is necessary.

Thresholds For Potato Leafhopper on Dry Edible Beans

Bean Growth Stage

# of Adults or Nymphs

per Trifoliate

unifoliate

0.2

2nd trifoliate

0.5

4th trifoliate

1.0

first bloom

2.0

Use a foliar insecticide if thresholds have been reached. A naturally occurring fungal pathogen helps reduce the populations of the PLH under warm, moist conditions but predators and parasites appear to play a minor role in controlling this pest.

For many farmers the spring workload is being compressed and planting delayed because of wet weather. Luckily the window for dry bean planting is not closing yet, and hopefully we do not have soggy fields through the beginning of June.

When deciding on a planting date for edible beans, the first concern is frost. Spring frost can lead to replant situations. Historically, our major bean growing regions have an average last spring frost date of May 20th or earlier. We do see frost after that date some years, but the current 14 day forecasts (Strathroy, Mitchell, Teeswater) are indicating that daily lows will be 8° C or above. Farmers should check soil temperatures as well. Dry beans prefer 15° C soil temperatures and above.

A total of 8 planting date experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at Exeter and Ridgetown research stations by Chris Gillard and his research team. Red Hawk dark red kidney beans, T9905 white beans, and Zorro black beans were planted on approximately May 20, May 30, June 10 and June 20 in each year. Overall, the highest yields were achieved with the May 30 planting date. In Exeter in 2015 there was heavy rainfall in early June, resulting in higher yields from the June 20 planting. A pounding rain after planting reduces yield and can be a greater influence on yield than the planting date. In 2014 at Ridgetown, all planting dates yielded the same. Gillard commented that even when weather conditions were good following the May 20 plant date, those beans did not yield as high as the May 30 planting. In some cases, waiting until June 20 to plant resulted in yield losses of 20% or more.

Harvest date is also an important consideration. First frost in the fall for most bean growing regions could be as early as the last week of September. The ideal time to harvest beans is during the first half of September when conditions should be dry, rather than into late September and October when rains and snow may be an issue.

The Ontario Pulse Crop Committee (www.GoBeans.ca) conduct dry edible bean performance trials and for each location and variety tested there are average days to maturity posted. You can also get info on days to maturity from your bean dealer. In the “long season” performance trial areas (St. Thomas, Highbury, Woodstock and Exeter) the 3 year average for days to maturity in white beans range from 95 days for Bolt, to 102 days for Apex and 106 days for DS105W0. For the “short season” performance trial areas (Elora, Blyth, Woodstock and Exeter) the 3 year average for days to maturity range from 102 days for Bolt, to 109 days for Apex and 110 for Mist. Days to maturity are counted from the planting date. Varieties are considered mature when 95% of pods are ripe, although it may take an additional 3-10 days for the crop to dry down to conditions suitable for combining.

There are also maturity ratings for the various coloured beans, which are typically planted at fewer trial locations. Zorro is the only black bean in recent trials, and the 2 year average for days to maturity is 97 days at St. Thomas and Exeter. Looking across all locations (St. Thomas, Woodstock, Exeter, Elora) the cranberry beans typically mature in 90 to 96 days, but Etna crans may be as early as 80 days in St. Thomas and up to 98 days in Elora. Similarly, the dark red kidney beans average 93 to 96 days across all sites, but depending on variety can be as early as 83 days in St. Thomas and as late as 103 days in Elora. Adzuki beans have not been included in the trials, but can take up to 110 days to mature. Again, do not forget the additional 3-10 days it may take the crop to dry down fully.

If you are able to plant on June 1, 95 days will take you to Sept 3 and 105 days will take you to Sept 13. If you plant into the second week of June you will likely end up harvesting into October. If you have contracts for a few different bean types, plan to plant the later maturing bean types first. Planting of adzuki should occur as soon as the soil and temperatures are fit, preferably late May or first of June. You can likely move cranberry bean planting to the end of the list.

Calling all WBC Trap Participants! The WBC Trap Network website is now up and running and ready for you to add your trap sites and join our trapping network.

Anyone wishing to join must login and create a new user account at www.cornpest.ca. Click on the “Login” menu from the top left of the page (on a computer) or from the top right of the page (using a mobile device). This will take you to the site’s login page. Scroll to the bottom of the login page and there you will find a link to “Create a new Account” page. Note that all usernames, by default, will begin with “CP-” followed by your email address (eg. CP-johnsmith@hotmail.com). More detailed instructions on how to login and create an account has been provided here.

For each corn field, you will need one trap. For each dry bean field, you will need two traps. We prefer bucket traps (aka uni-traps) instead of the milk jug traps which are more labour intensive and must have antifreeze in them at all times work. Detailed trapping instructions and trap supply lists and sources are also provided on the website at: http://www.cornpest.ca/wbc-trap-network/wbc-trapping-instructions/

Enter your trap data no later than Wednesday of each week, entering the previous weeks counts and in return, we will have interactive maps published for all data coming in from Ontario, Quebec and new this year Michigan! Traps need to go up sometime in June and stay up until the end of August.

And finally, we have revised the WBC infosheets for both corn and dry beans. Here are the links to those resources:

Co-authored with Chris Gillard, University of Guelph- Ridgetown Campus

The 2016 season was relatively dry, and one thing edible bean growers did not have to contend with was anthracnose. In Ontario we have not seen a significant infestation of anthracnose since 2010. Can we continue to keep anthracnose at bay into the future?

History of Anthracnose in Ontario

Ontario growers experienced their first major infestation in 1977. Bean seed harvested that year was significantly impacted and strict seed inspection protocols were put in place on seed fields in the years to follow. At that time Race 23 was the predominant isolate.

Bean industry professionals often quote an 8-10 year time frame between significant infection issues in Ontario, which occur when the predominant race of anthracnose changes. Some current edible bean varieties carry resistance to just one specific race of anthracnose while others are resistant to multiple races. Plant breeders are working to pyramid resistance and develop new varieties that provide protection against several of the races encountered in North America. However, if a new race moves in the resistant edible bean varieties used against past races will not be effective.

In 2004 farmers began the battle with Race 73. Surveys conducted in 2005-2007 indicated that over 95% of the anthracnose isolates were Race 73, although at least 5 other races were found in Ontario. In 2010 there was another significant outbreak, and in 2014 Ontario farmers were also finding anthracnose in their fields. In both years it was still predominantly Race 73. There is some concern that we are getting beyond that 8-10 year time frame and an outbreak of a new race is just around the corner.

Along the timeline of anthracnose development in Ontario, we can also mark changes in cultural and chemical control practices. Pyraclostrobin (Headline, BASF) was registered in edible beans in Ontario in 2002, and azoxystrobin (Quadris, Syngenta) in 2005. Strobilurin fungicides effectively prevent disease development by interrupting spore germination. Other important chemical and cultural control measures came in 2006. Azoxystrobin (Dynasty, Syngenta) seed treatments were added to fludioxanil + metalaxyl-M (Apron Maxx, Syngenta) to significantly increase disease control, and the industry moved to 2 years of seed production in Idaho with 1 year in Ontario. And finally, since 2010 all Ontario pedigreed seeds fields are being treated twice with strobilurin fungicides in an effort to prevent disease development and transmission.

There are over 40 varieties of edible beans registered in Canada with resistance to Race 73. A majority of kidney bean varieties carry resistance. Two recently registered navy varieties (Bolt, Fatham) and one recent black bean variety (Zenith) carry anthracnose resistance. That said, most navy and black bean varieties are susceptible to Race 73 and are therefore at risk of developing the disease.

Disease Symptoms, Transmission and Management

Anthracnose infection appears as brown to black lesions on petioles (leaf stems) and along leaf veins on the underside of leaves. Pods will develop sunken, circular lesions that are light to dark brown, with a well-defined black ring often surrounded by a red-brown halo. The center of the lesions on pods may have a white to pink gelatinous mass of spores, which turns to grey or black granules as it dries. Seeds can be significantly discoloured or shriveled. If infection occurs late in the season, seeds may carry anthracnose without any visible symptoms on the seed. Yield losses may be up to 100%, and visual quality of seed in infected fields may render the crop unmarketable.

Transmission of the disease is usually from infected seed. Efforts to produce seed in arid regions such as Idaho have significantly reduced issues with anthracnose in Ontario. Anthracnose can overwinter in fields on edible bean residue. Work by Chris Gillard, University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus and Bob Conner, AAFC in Morden MB, has shown the disease can survive for up to 20 months on crop residue on the soil surface, and up to 6 months on buried crop residue, so crop rotation and tillage are important in management. Anthracnose can be dispersed through the field by wind-driven rains, on clothing or footwear of people walking through fields, and to a lesser extent on metal farm machinery. Cool to moderate temperatures (12 to 27° C) and frequent rains promote disease development.

Studies led by Chris Gillard in 2014 show that strobilurin fungicides are most effective at controlling anthracnose compared to other active ingredients, and there was little difference between the various strobilurin products. Studies on different application timings in 2005-2006 showed that for a single fungicide application the best timings are at 1st flower (one open flower per plant) to full flower where infection levels are moderate to high. If infection levels are low an application at full flower is effective. The greatest return on investment (ROI) was achieved with an application at 1st flower; this timing was associated with the lowest level of dockage and pick as well as good yield.

Two sequential applications consistently resulted in better yields and seed weights than a single application. The ROI was $34 to $91/ac higher for sequential fungicide applications than for single applications at 3 of 4 field sites. Sequential applications at 5th trifoliate + full bloom had the highest yield in a low anthracnose year, and in a year with high disease pressure the 1st flower + full bloom timing was best.

References:

Gillard, C. (2016). A summary of 15 years of research on the cultural and chemical control of anthracnose in dry bean [Powerpoint presentation]. Canadian Pulse Research Workshop.

The updated Organic Field Crop Handbook is now available for purchase on the Canadian Organic Growers’ website.

The cost is $45.00 (448 pages).

From the website:

“This handbook is divided into five sections. Section One covers the principles upon which organic management practices are based along with an overview of the organic certification process. Section Two focuses on soil management, Section Three on weed and pest management, while Section Four is written to help producers to understand how to design an effective organic field crop rotation. Section Five provides practical tips for growing the key organic field crops of North America.”

Dry edible bean acres were lower in 2016 than they were in 2015. The total number of insured acres of white beans in 2016 was 46,194 acres, a significant reduction from the 62,693 acres planted in 2015. Coloured bean acres totaled 60,668 acres in 2016 compared to 71,855 acres in 2015. Acreage was reduced in each of the individual coloured bean market classes, with cranberry beans seeing the greatest reduction from 15,901 acres in 2015 to 9,757 acres in 2016. In total, there were 106,862 acres of dry edible beans under crop insurance.

Spring conditions were generally excellent for planting edible beans. The majority of fields were dry enough to plant in the last couple weeks of May, although some heavier ground remained wet longer. Adzuki bean planting began around the long weekend in May, and a large majority of Ontario’s small seeded edible beans were planted in the first week of June when the risk of frost had passed. Those that opted to wait for additional moisture were still waiting in mid-June. Emergence was slow and/or uneven in some cases because of a lack of moisture.

There were very few replant situations, other than a few reports of bald headed beans emerging in crusted fields. This was certainly a different situation than last year when about 25% of beans were replanted because of heavy rains in June. There were some cases of Group 15 herbicide injury issues at emergence, where beans were knuckling out of the ground during a rainfall event. Some were replanted but most grew out of the damage.

Although conditions were dry, the crop looked good through the end of June. Earlier planted fields were flowering in the first week of July, but growth and canopy closure was slow. Dry conditions caused plants to move through growth stages faster, so plants were often smaller than usual when they began flowering. Much of the bean crop had pods forming before the end of July and in many regions beans were showing signs of moisture stress by that time. Farmers have commented that they saw less pod abortion than they expected with the hot, dry conditions, but pod loss likely occurred and there were certainly beans missing within the pods that did form.

Rain events in August may have helped some of the later planted dry edible beans, but much of the crop was too far along to benefit at that time. The rain did cause some bean pods to swell and split, and late season flowering/re-flowering was also an issue in 2016. Where yields were expected to be low, some fields were allowed to re-flower and set new pods to try and gain yield, particularly for the adzuki crop.

Weeds, Insects and Diseases

Spring weed control was poor in many regions (example in Figure 1). There were widespread weed escapes from soil applied herbicides because of the lack of moisture. Many fields were weedy throughout the season, likely reducing yield and requiring desiccation prior to harvest.

Figure 1. Poor weed control in edible beans was common this year because dry weather reduced activity of soil applied herbicides

Figure 2. Western bean cutworm found in edible beans in Oxford County (Photo credit J. Bruggeman, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus)

Insects were not a major issue, generally speaking, although there were reports of insecticide applications for two-spotted spider mites and Western bean cutworm (WBC). Spider mites moved into soybean and edible bean fields in early August and required prompt spraying to prevent significant damage. Spider mites are more of an issue in dry conditions, as we had in 2016. WBC was a major concern in corn fields this year, and edible bean fields on light soil or near infested corn fields were at risk of damage. Typically it is very difficult to find WBC in bean fields but egg masses and larvae were found in edible beans in the Innerkip area of Oxford County and Thamesville area of Chatham-Kent this year (Figure 2). Peak WBC flight occurred in mid to late July for most of Ontario. Also, although reports were limited, some spraying for tarnish plant bug and leafhoppers did occur. Generally speaking, leafhoppers were not a significant problem this season.

There were fewer incidences of disease in 2016, and fields were generally disease free for the first half of the season. Root rot was present in edible bean fields on a limited scale, and for the most part did not cause major issues. Anthracnose was not reported at all in 2016. Risk of white mould was low although it could be found in August, and many growers did choose to apply fungicides for protection. Common bacterial blight and bacterial brown spot appeared in fields in the second half of the season. Bacterial brow spot was most commonly found on adzuki, but was detected on other bean types as well. It can be difficult to differentiate bacterial brown spot symptoms from those of common bacterial blight (see Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3. Common Bacterial Blight

Figure 4. Bacterial Brown Spot in adzuki beans

Quality and Yield

Harvest of dry edible beans began earlier than usual because early planting and dry conditions caused plants to mature earlier. Mid-September was approximately the halfway point of harvest across Ontario, but there were still some beans coming off in the first week of November. Harvest conditions were good overall and October and November were relatively warm and dry.

As mentioned previously, blank pods or half-filled pods were common, with losses attributed to dry, hot conditions. The earlier harvested crop was quite dry (as low as 13% moisture) and the beans tended to be on the small side. Earlier harvested fields also tended to have low yields. As harvest proceeded the quality and yields improved.

(UPDATED FEB 10, 2017) The average edible bean yields for each market class in 2016, based on data from Agricorp, is as follows:

Harvest aid treatments in dry edible beans will provide a more even dry down of the crop and any escaped weeds, making harvest more efficient. Controlling escaped weeds can also reduce seed stain, improving bean quality. There are six products registered for pre-harvest use in edible beans in Ontario, and the label rates and application timing are provided in Table 1. Aim, Ignite, Reglone and Valtera are contact herbicides that require higher water volumes and good coverage, and will provide rapid dry down of plant material. Eragon is translocated within plants, and provides control of weeds as well as dry down of bean plants. Glyphosate is slower acting, and is primarily used to control weeds or prevent crop regrowth.

Reglone causes rapid necrosis and is best applied at dusk or on a cloudy day to increase plant uptake before cell membranes are disrupted and necrosis occurs. Aim, Valtera and Eragon should be applied on warm, sunny days to activate accumulation of damaging molecules.

Apply to dry bean when 80-90% of bean leaves have fallen and pods are mature.

Eragon LQ + Merge

29.5 – 59 mL/ac

+ 0.5% v/v

Apply when 90% of pods have changed from green to yellow to brown. Harvest can commence within 3 -10 days after application.

Glyphosate (360 g/L)

1 L/ac

Apply when stems are green to brown in colour; pods are mature (yellow to brown in colour); 80-90% leaf drop (original leaves).

Ignite 150 SN

1 – 1.2 L/ha

Apply when 50 -75% of the bean pods have changed colour from green to yellow or brown. Allow 9 days before harvesting.

Reglone + Non-ionic surfactant

0.5 – 0.92 L/ac + 0.1% v/v

Apply when at least 80% of the pods have turned yellow. Harvest can commence within 4 -10 days after application.

Valtera + MSO Concentrate

42 g/ac + 1 L/ac

Product label does not specify a specific timing other than a statement of “Do not harvest within 5 days of application”.

Timing of harvest aids is critical to maximize the quality and yield of dry bean seed. Pre-harvest herbicides will not speed the maturity of the plants or decrease seed moisture, but can shorten the time between crop maturity and harvest. Pod colour change is the best indication of maturity; leaf drop and leaf colour are not good indicators. Once a herbicide is applied, late pods will not continue to mature so ensure the beans have the desired colour before application and are not green when split open. Herbicide labels provide guidance around timing, but it can be tricky to visualize exactly what “80% of pods have turned” actually looks like. Different edible bean classes have different pod colour when beans are fully mature. Figures 1 through 12 at the end of the article are visual examples of different market classes of dry edible beans when they are ready for an application of a harvest aid treatment, compared to when it’s too early.

Considerations When Using Glyphosate

Bean dealers may have restrictions in place on what products can be used pre-harvest for certain bean classes or markets, and in this particular year growers should ensure they confirm with their dealer. Concerns around the use of glyphosate are at the forefront again. Authorization of glyphosate in the European Union was set to expire in June and re-authorization came in the form of an 18 month extension in the final days of discussions. For this reason some bean dealers may have restrictions on the use of glyphosate pre-harvest.

The label for glyphosate indicates that it should not be applied until beans reach 30% moisture or less because the seed can take up glyphosate residues. There is also a 7 day pre-harvest interval. Care should be taken in unevenly maturing fields to ensure application is occurring when all plants are at 30% moisture or below. Field research by Drs. K. McNaughton, C. Gillard and colleagues in Western Canada over a 4 year period shows that unacceptable levels of glyphosate are taken up by the seed if it is applied before plants reach 75% maturity. Also, application of glyphosate with Eragon at 75% maturity reduced bean yields by 16% compared to application at full maturity. Hundred seed weight, pick and quality (colour) were improved when pre-harvest glyphosate or glyphosate plus Eragon was applied around 100% maturity. Careful determination of the crop maturity is important for residue levels as well as profit.

How effective are different pre-harvest treatments at “drying down” common weeds?

There is limited public research comparing performance of pre-harvest treatments on different weed species. Dr. Peter Sikkema has conducted six trials over three seasons on edible beans and his results are summarized below. Regardless of treatment used, the expectation should be that the pre-harvest treatment will improve harvest efficiency but it will not result in a complete “dry down” of target weeds.

Table 2. Visual Control of lamb’s-quarters, ragweed, pigweed and foxtail 8 days after application of various desiccant treatments

Pre Harvest Treatment

Visual Control (%) 8 days after application

lambsquarter

ragweed

pigweed

foxtail

Aim EC (47 mL/ac) + NIS1 (0.25% v.v)

30

12

29

7

Eragon LQ (59 mL/ac) + Merge (0.5% v.v)

46

73

64

26

glyphosate (1L/ac)*

29

17

38

63

Ignite (1.2 L/ac)

70

66

65

52

Reglone (0.92 L/ac) + NIS1 (0.1% v/v)

73

80

78

47

Valtera (42 g/ac) + MSO Concentrate (1 L/ac)

38

52

41

32

* glyphosate rate per acre is based on a product concentration of 360 g/L (e.g. Roundup Original)

The dry season is leaving the edible bean and soybean crops susceptible to two-spotted spider mites, especially now that wheat harvest is wrapping up. In some years, spider mites will also feed on corn leaves. Spider mite damage and management are very similar for soybeans and edible beans. Because of the dry conditions and likely earlier harvest of edible beans this season, get out and scout for spider mites now.

Two-spotted spider mites and webbing (D. Cappaert, Michigan State U)

A single, un-mated spider mite can be the start of a new colony and under hot conditions infestations can grow quickly. Spider mites will move into the edge of bean fields after wheat is harvested, and can then be moved further into fields on the wind using a “balloon” made of spun webbing. They are barely visible to the naked eye, and would require a 10x lense to see. Two spotted spider mites are yellow-brown with two dark spots on their abdomen, or are orange in colour if they are overwintering females. Eggs are found on the underside of bean leaves and are small, round and translucent. When scouting, pull a leaf off the plant and shake it over white paper to see the spider mites moving.

Two-spotted spider mite damage to kidney beans (P. Heinrich)

Damage is visible in the form of white stippling (dots) on the upper leaf surface from the sucking mouth parts, and plants appear sand blasted or dusty on the underside of the leaves. From the road a soybean field may look grey if there is an infestation, or brown if the leaves are dropping off and the plants are shutting down and dying.

Dimethoate (Cygon/Lagon) is the only product registered for spider mites on soybeans and edible beans. Note that there is a 30 day harvest interval after application, so scout fields now and keep this time frame in mind. DO NOT use Matador, it does not control spider mite and will kill beneficial insects which include ladybird beetle, thrips, and predaceous mites.

We are all wishing for rain and analyzing the forecast; if our hopes come true and we are lucky enough to have prolonged leaf wetness, spider mite numbers may drop significantly.

Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) are active now in both corn and edible beans fields. While we do not have an action threshold specific for treatment of WBC in dry edible beans, farmers can scout nearby corn fields and consult the available resources listed below.

The following information is taken from a 2015 post on Field Crop News, written by Tracey Baute. You can search the website for other articles on WBC.

For dry beans, it is highly unlikely that you will find eggs or larvae no matter how diligent you are at scouting. In dry beans, the larvae are active at night and hide in the soil during the day. You are much better off spending your time looking for the first signs of feeding holes in the pods. Pod feeding is expected to start approximately 10 to 20 days after peak flight. Effective control can still occur then, as long as pod feeding is spotted early and dealt with.

Dry bean fields planted on sandy soils and in areas of known hot spots (Thamesville to Strathroy and Tillsonburg/Simcoe) are at higher risk. Fields bordering corn fields that have reached threshold are also at risk, especially once corn is beyond the pre-tassel stages.

Action Threshold for Dry Beans: If WBC has reached a threshold in the neighbouring corn field, adjacent dry bean fields are likely at risk, especially if the corn fields have passed the pre-tassel stage and moths are still actively flying, as indicated by the pheromone traps. If entry holes are observed in the pods, an insecticide application is necessary.